DNR proposal would double catfish limits

The channel catfish bag limit on the Sauk River Chain of Lakes could double under a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources proposal meant to entice anglers to reduce a species that has proliferated since the 1970s when it was introduced to control bullheads.
(Photo:
AFP/Getty Images
)

The channel catfish bag limit on the Sauk River Chain of Lakes could double under a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources proposal meant to entice anglers to reduce a species that has proliferated since the 1970s when it was introduced to control bullheads.

Bullhead control was successful. Area Fisheries Manager Joe Stewig said the walleye, crappie and sunfish numbers remain within the range expected for those lakes. But the perception is those panfish and sportfish numbers have decreased — likely because anglers are hooking so many catfish.

"I think Minnesotans are more used to catching sunnies and crappies and walleyes and bass, and they don't really target catfish. That's where the feeling comes from," said John Rocky, 54, president of the Sauk River Chain of Lakes Association. "I think perception is that it's hurting the other species of fish."

The proposed regulation would increase the daily limit for channel catfish from five to 10 fish. The one-over-24-inches rule would remain intact. Affected lakes would include the Sauk River Chain of Lakes plus Long, North Brown's, Eden and Mud lakes.

Channel catfish were stocked into Horseshoe and Cedar Island lakes from 1976-88. By the mid-1990s they were abundant, according to the DNR, and had migrated upstream. A 2013 gill net survey in Long Lake turned up 58 per net — a number considered high. Surveys also showed 71 percent of catfish in the lakes were in the 12- to 17-inch range.

Stewig said the DNR has not set a population goal.

If approved, regulations would be evaluated through gill-net surveys and growth-rate tracking.

Rocky applauded Stewig's efforts to present the proposal as an opportunity for catfish-hungry anglers.

"It's nice to be able to liberalize some of those regulations a little bit to let people take advantage of a booming population. With the habitat that's in the Sauk River Chain, I don't suspect those fish are just going to stop reproducing," Stewig said.

Stewig said the proposal sprang from a conversation with a conservation officer who was seeing a large number of over-the-limit catfish catches at the same time residents were expressing interest in curbing catfish numbers.

Public meetings will be scheduled this fall to present information and gather comments. If approved, the regulation would take effect March 1, 2015, and be in place for 10 years.

For more information, contact Stewig at joe.stewig@state.mn.us or 763-675-3301.